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Shoulder Anatomy
The two main bones of the shoulder are the humerus and
the scapula (shoulder blade). The joint cavity is cushioned
by articular cartilage covering the head of the humerus and
face of the glenoid. The scapula extends up and around the
shoulder joint at the rear to form a roof called the
acromion, and around the shoulder joint at the front to form
the coracoid process.
The end of the scapula, called the glenoid, meets the
head of the humerus to form a glenohumeral cavity that acts
as a flexible ball-and-socket joint. The joint is stabilized
by a ring of fibrous cartilage surrounding the glenoid
called the labrum.
Ligaments connect the bones of the shoulder, and tendons
join the bones to surrounding muscles. The biceps tendon
attaches the biceps muscle to the shoulder and helps to
stabilize the joint.
Four short muscles originate on the scapula and pass
around the shoulder where their tendons fuse together to
form the rotator cuff. All of these components of your
shoulder, along with the muscles of your upper body, work
together to manage the stress your shoulder receives as you
extend, flex, lift and throw.

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